Substrate cleaning apparatus and substrate processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning apparatus for performing scrub cleaning of a surface of a substrate by rotating both of the substrate and a roll cleaning member while keeping the roll cleaning member in contact with the surface of the substrate. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a roll holder ( 42 ) configured to support and rotate a roll cleaning member ( 46 ), a vertical movement mechanism ( 60 ), having a vertically movable unit ( 58 ) vertically movable by actuation of an actuator ( 56 ) having a regulating device ( 62 ), configured to vertically move the roll holder ( 42 ) coupled to the vertically movable unit ( 58 ) so that the roll cleaning member ( 46 ) applies a roll load to the substrate W at the time of cleaning the substrate, a load cell ( 54 ) provided between the vertically movable unit ( 58 ) of the vertical movement mechanism ( 60 ) and the roll holder ( 42 ) and configured to measure the roll load, and a controller ( 66 ) configured to perform feedback control of the roll load through the regulating device ( 62 ) of the actuator ( 56 ) based on a measured value of the load cell ( 54 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning apparatus and asubstrate processing apparatus having the substrate cleaning apparatusfor performing scrub cleaning of a surface of a substrate, such as asemiconductor wafer, with an elongated cylindrical roll cleaning memberextending horizontally, by rotating both of the substrate and the rollcleaning member in one direction respectively while keeping the rollcleaning member in contact with the surface of the substrate.

BACKGROUND ART

In a substrate cleaning apparatus for performing scrub cleaning of asurface of a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, with a rollcleaning member, the roll cleaning member needs to be pressed againstthe substrate under a predetermined pressing load (roll load) duringcleaning of the substrate. Generally, the roll load is adjusted at thetime of startup operation of the apparatus or at the time of maintenanceof the apparatus. However, as described above, only by adjusting theroll load at the time of startup operation of the apparatus or at thetime of maintenance of the apparatus, the roll load which is actuallyapplied onto the substrate when the roll cleaning member is pressedagainst the substrate to clean the substrate cannot be graspedaccurately due to variation of the property of the roll cleaning member,a time-dependent change of the roll cleaning member, or the like.

Therefore, there has been known a feedback control of a roll load byconstructing a closed-loop control (CLC) system in which, for example,supply pressures of air supplied to an air cylinder used for applyingthe roll load to a substrate by moving a roll cleaning member up anddown are measured and a regulating device is controlled based on themeasured values. However, because the supply pressures of air arenothing but alternative property, the supply pressures of air do notprecisely indicate the roll load actually applied to the substrateduring cleaning of the substrate.

Further, there has been known a feedback control of a roll load byconstructing a closed-loop control system in which a pressure sensorsuch as a load cell for measuring a roll load applied to a substrate bya roll cleaning member is provided in a cleaning apparatus and aregulating device is controlled based on the measured values (see patentdocuments 1 to 3).

Furthermore, in order to enhance control accuracy of a contact pressure(roll load) applied to the substrate so that the cleaning member canthoroughly follow the deflection of a surface (surface to be cleaned)caused by substrate warpage, there has been proposed a device in which acontact pressure is detected by a load detecting sensor, and anactuating mechanism of a mounting shaft having a distal end to which acleaning member is attached is controlled based on the detected results(see patent document 4). Also, there has been proposed a device in whichwhile a substrate is cleaned by a cleaning brush incorporating apressure sensor, a brush pressure detected by the pressure sensor ismonitored and a brush pressure control mechanism is controlled so thatthe brush pressure coincides with a target value (see patent document5).

As an internal pressure stabilizing apparatus for a fluid pressurizationtype carrier, there has been known a device in which a pressure valueinside a pressure chamber is detected by a pressure sensor, and when thedetected pressure value differs from a desired pressure value, a valveof an electropneumatic converter is adjusted to cause an internalpressure of the pressure chamber to coincide with the desired pressurevalue (see patent document 6). Further, in a polishing apparatus, therehas been proposed a load cell installed immediately above a gimbaldevice (tilting mechanism) of a substrate carrier for holding androtating a substrate (see patent document 7).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent document 1: Japanese patent No. 3397525

Patent document 2: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-204483

Patent document 3: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2002-50602

Patent document 4: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2001-293445

Patent document 5: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2002-313765

Patent document 6: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2001-105298

Patent document 7: Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-271856

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the conventional substrate cleaning apparatus which cleans thesubstrate by pressing the roll cleaning member against the substrate,there are generally mechanical friction force, strain, backlash, and thelike (as specific structures, a bearing, a bush, a link rod, a beam, aprojection, a cantilever structure, and the like are included) betweenthe roll cleaning member and the pressure sensor for measuring the rollload. Therefore, the difference between the measured pressure value(measured value) by the pressure sensor and the roll load actuallyapplied to the substrate during cleaning of the substrate becomeslarger, and thus the reliability as a pressure detecting-measuringsystem is low before performing feedback control of the roll load byusing a closed-loop control system.

Accordingly, there are cases where the roll load (actual roll load)actually applied to the substrate during cleaning of the substratefluctuates with respect to a preset roll load, or is shifted from thepreset roll load. In this manner, if there is a difference between theroll load (actual roll load) actually applied to the substrate duringcleaning of the substrate and the preset roll load, it is thought thatthe cleaning apparatus cannot fully exert its inherent cleaningperformance.

As described above, in the current circumstances, it is hard to say thatthe roll load actually applied to the substrate during cleaning of thesubstrate is controlled in a rigorous manner and with high accuracy.Since the roll load cannot be detected and measured accurately, it hasbeen generally difficult to determine the optimum roll load.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide asubstrate cleaning apparatus which can measure a roll load, with highaccuracy, actually applied to a substrate by a roll cleaning memberduring cleaning of the substrate, and can control the roll load withhigh accuracy.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, there is provided a substratecleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate, comprising: a roll holderconfigured to support a horizontally elongated roll cleaning member androtate the roll cleaning member; a vertical movement mechanism, having avertically movable unit vertically movable by actuation of an actuatorhaving a regulating device, configured to vertically move the rollholder coupled to the vertically movable unit so that the roll cleaningmember applies a predetermined roll load to the substrate at the time ofcleaning the substrate; a load cell provided between the verticallymovable unit of the vertical movement mechanism and the roll holder andconfigured to measure the roll load; and a controller configured toperform feedback control of the roll load through the regulating deviceof the actuator based on a measured value of the load cell.

In this manner, by providing the load cell between the verticallymovable unit of the vertical movement mechanism and the roll holdercoupled to the vertically movable unit, a structure in which the loadcell receives the entire own weight of the roll holder can beestablished, and a structure in which a bearing or a link rod whichincreases a friction during vertical movement of the roll holder, or abeam structure, a projection or the like which causes a loss in loadtransmission is not provided between the roll holder and the load cellcan be established. Therefore, the roll load applied to the substrateduring cleaning of the substrate can be transmitted to the load cellaccurately, and thus the roll load can be measured and controlled withhigh accuracy.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the vertically movableunit of the vertical movement mechanism comprises a vertically movableshaft vertically movable by actuation of the actuator, or a verticallymovable arm extending in a horizontal direction and having a base endcoupled to the vertically movable shaft.

The vertically movable unit of the vertical movement mechanismpreferably comprises a vertically movable shaft which is verticallymovable along a vertical line passing through the center of gravity ofthe roll holder. However, depending on the relation of an installationspace or the like, the vertically movable unit of the vertical movementmechanism may comprise a vertically movable arm extending in thehorizontal direction.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a tilting mechanism isprovided between the vertically movable unit of the vertical movementmechanism and the roll holder and configured to tilt the roll holder.

Thus, while keeping the horizontal attitude of the roll cleaning memberheld by the roll holder, the roll cleaning member is brought intocontact with the substrate uniformly over substantially the entirelength of the roll cleaning member and is allowed to follow thesubstrate when warpage or inclination of the substrate, flapping of thesubstrate caused by its rotation, or the like occurs. Thus, the rollload is applied to the substrate uniformly to thereby improve thecleaning performance, and the repulsive force from the substrate isreceived by the entire roll cleaning member to thereby improve themeasurement accuracy of the roll load.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the load cell isprovided at a substantially central area along a longitudinal directionof the roll holder and is coupled to the vertically movable unit of thevertical movement mechanism.

Thus, the center of gravity of the roll holder for supporting androtating the roll cleaning member passes through the center of the loadcell or a location close to the center of the load cell, therebycoupling the roll holder to the vertically movable unit in awell-balanced manner.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the controller isconfigured to start the feedback control of the roll load from when theroll load is applied to the substrate.

In this manner, the controller is configured so as not to perform thefeedback control of the roll load before the roll load is applied to thesubstrate, and thus the initial disturbance of the roll load can beprevented and the time required for the roll load to reach a preset rollload can be shortened.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the controllerarbitrarily sets, for each preset roll load, timing to start thefeedback control of the roll load applied to the substrate.

With this configuration also, the initial disturbance of the roll loadcan be prevented and the time required for the roll load to reach apreset roll load can be shortened.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, an electropneumaticregulator is used as the regulating device, and the controllerarbitrarily sets, for each preset roll load, an operation amount of theelectropneumatic regulator before starting the feedback control of theroll load applied to the substrate.

For example, in the case where the preset roll load is 2N, the operationamount of the electropneumatic regulator when starting the feedbackcontrol of the roll load is set so that a valve opening degree becomes20%. In the case where the preset roll load is 10N, the operation amountof the electropneumatic regulator is set so that the valve openingdegree becomes 60%. With this configuration also, the initialdisturbance of the roll load can be prevented and the time required forthe roll load to reach a preset roll load can be shortened.

According to the present invention, there is provided a substrateprocessing apparatus having the above substrate cleaning apparatus.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the substrate cleaning apparatus of the present invention,the roll load actually applied to the substrate during cleaning of thesubstrate can be monitored. Further, the roll load is transmitted to theload cell accurately to thereby measure the roll load with highaccuracy, and a difference between the roll load (actual roll load)actually applied to the substrate and a measured value (measured rollload) measured by the load cell is reduced to thereby control the rollload with high accuracy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire structure of a substrateprocessing apparatus incorporating a substrate cleaning apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the substrate cleaningapparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which isincorporated in the substrate processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front schematic elevational view showing an entire structureof the substrate cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a front sectional elevational view of a tilting mechanismprovided at an upper roll holder side;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional elevational view of the tilting mechanismprovided at the upper roll holder side;

FIG. 6 is a front sectional elevational view of a tilting mechanismprovided at a lower roll holder side;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between time and the rollload when the preset roll load is 6N, and the operation amounts of theelectropneumatic regulator before starting the feedback control of theroll load are set to valve opening degrees 40% and 20%, respectively,and then the roll load is feedback-controlled, by using graph A andgraph B, and showing the relationship between time and the roll loadwhen the preset roll load is 6N, and the operation amount of theelectropneumatic regulator is set (fixed) to valve opening degree 30%and the roll load is not feedback-controlled, by using graph C;

FIG. 8 is a front sectional elevational view showing another upper rollholder incorporating therein a load cell and a tilting mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a front sectional elevational view showing another lower rollholder incorporating therein a load cell and a tilting mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to drawings. In the following examples, identical orcorresponding parts are denoted by identical reference numerals, andwill not be described in duplication.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire structure of a substrateprocessing apparatus incorporating a substrate cleaning apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,the substrate processing apparatus includes a generally-rectangularhousing 10, and a loading port 12 for placing thereon a substratecassette storing a large number of substrates, such as semiconductorwafers. The loading port 12 is disposed adjacent to the housing 10 andis capable of placing thereon an open cassette, a SMIF (standardmanufacturing interface) pod or a FOUP (front opening unified pod). Eachof the SMIF and the FOUP is a hermetically sealed container which housestherein a substrate cassette and is covered with a partition wall, andthus can keep independent internal environment isolated from an externalspace.

In the housing 10, there are provided a plurality of (four in thisexample) polishing units 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, a first substratecleaning unit 16 and a second substrate cleaning unit 18 each forcleaning a substrate after polishing, and a substrate drying unit 20 fordrying a substrate after cleaning. The polishing units 14 a, 14 b, 14 c,14 d are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the substrateprocessing apparatus, and the substrate cleaning units 16, 18 and thesubstrate drying unit 20 are also arranged in the longitudinal directionof the substrate processing apparatus. The substrate cleaning apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to thefirst substrate cleaning unit 16.

A first substrate transfer robot 22 is disposed in an area surrounded bythe loading port 12, and the polishing unit 14 a and the substratedrying unit 20 which are located near the loading port 12. Further, asubstrate transport unit 24 is disposed in parallel to the polishingunits 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d. The first substrate transfer robot 22receives a substrate before polishing from the loading port 12 andtransfers the substrate to the substrate transport unit 24, and receivesa substrate after drying from the substrate drying unit 20 and returnsthe substrate to the loading port 12. The substrate transport unit 24transports a substrate received from the first substrate transfer robot22, and transfers the substrate between the substrate transport unit 24and the polishing units 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d.

Between the first substrate cleaning unit 16 and the second substratecleaning unit 18, there is provided a second substrate transfer robot 26for transferring a substrate between the first substrate cleaning unit16 and the second substrate cleaning unit 18. Between the secondsubstrate cleaning unit 18 and the substrate drying unit 20, there isprovided a third substrate transfer robot 28 for transferring asubstrate between the substrate cleaning unit 18 and the substratedrying unit 20. In the housing 10, there is provided a control panel(operation panel) 30 for inputting a preset value of the roll load andthe like, described below.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the (first) substratecleaning unit 16, according to an embodiment of the present invention,incorporated in the substrate processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.3 is a front schematic elevational view showing an entire structure ofthe substrate cleaning unit 16 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the substrate cleaning unit 16 includes aplurality of (four as illustrated) horizontally movable spindles 40 forsupporting a periphery of a substrate W, such as a semiconductor wafer,with its front surface facing upwardly, and horizontally rotating thesubstrate W, a vertically movable upper roll holder 42 disposed abovethe substrate W rotatably supported by the spindles 40, and a verticallymovable lower roll holder 44 disposed below the substrate W rotatablysupported by the spindles 40.

An elongated cylindrical upper roll cleaning member (roll sponge) 46made of PVA or the like, is rotatably supported by the upper roll holder42. The upper roll cleaning member 46 is rotated by a driving mechanism(not shown) in the direction shown by the arrow F₁ in FIG. 2. Anelongated cylindrical lower roll cleaning member (roll sponge) 48, madeof PVA or the like, is rotatably supported by the lower roll holder 44.The lower roll cleaning member 48 is rotated by a driving mechanism (notshown) in the direction shown by the arrow F₂ in FIG. 2.

An upper cleaning liquid supply nozzle 50 for supplying a cleaningliquid onto the front surface (upper surface) of the substrate W isdisposed above the substrate W rotatably supported by the spindles 40. Alower cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 for supplying a cleaning liquidonto the back surface (lower surface) of the substrate W is disposedbelow the substrate W rotatably supported by the spindles 40.

A recess 42 a is provided at a substantially central area along thelongitudinal direction of the upper roll holder 42, and a load cell 54is located inside the recess 42 a and is fixed to the upper roll holder42. In this example, there is provided a vertical movement mechanism 60comprising an air cylinder 56 disposed in the vertical direction toserve as an actuator, a vertically movable shaft 57 vertically movableby actuation of the air cylinder (actuator) 56, and a vertically movablearm 58, as a vertically movable unit, extending in a horizontaldirection and having a base end connected to the upper end of thevertically movable shaft 57. The upper roll holder 42 is coupled via theload cell 54 to a lower end of a free end side of the vertically movablearm (vertically movable unit) 58.

With this configuration, the upper roll holder 42 is vertically movedtogether with the vertically movable shaft 57 and the vertically movablearm 58, by actuation of the air cylinder 56. The air cylinder 56 isprovided with an electropneumatic regulator 62, as a regulating device,for regulating a supply pressure of air to be supplied to an interior ofthe air cylinder 56. By adjusting a valve opening degree of theelectropneumatic regulator (regulating device) 62, the pressure of airto be supplied into the air cylinder 56 is regulated.

In this manner, the upper roll holder 42 is coupled to the lower surfaceof the free end side of the vertically movable arm 58 at thesubstantially central area along the longitudinal direction of the upperroll holder 42 so that the center of gravity of the upper roll holder 42which supports and rotates the upper roll cleaning member 46, passesthrough the center of the load cell 54 or a location close to the centerof the load cell 54, thereby coupling the upper roll holder 42 to thelower surface of the free end side of the vertically movable arm 58 in ahorizontal state and a well-balanced manner.

Further, the own weight of the upper roll holder 42 can be transmittedto the load cell 54 without any loss by coupling the upper roll holder42 to the lower end of the free end side of the vertically movable arm58 via the load cell 54. When the upper roll holder 42 is lowered tobring the upper roll cleaning member 46 into contact with the substrateW at the time of cleaning the substrate W, a tensile load applied to theload cell 54 is reduced by a certain amount which substantiallycoincides with the roll load (pressing load) applied to the substrate Wby the upper roll cleaning member 46.

Accordingly, the roll load applied to the substrate W by the upper rollcleaning member 46 during cleaning of the substrate W is measured by theload cell 54 based on the reduced tensile load, and the valve openingdegree is adjusted by an operation amount of the electropneumaticregulator 62, thereby regulating the roll load.

The measured value measured by the load cell 54 is sent, from anindicator 64 of the load cell 54, in analog signal to a controller 66 asa control unit, and the analog signal sent from the controller (controlunit) 66 is inputted to the electropneumatic regulator 62. Thus, aclosed-loop control system for performing a closed-loop control isconstructed. Further, a preset value such as preset roll load isinputted from the control panel (operation panel) 30 to the controller66.

With this configuration, the controller 66 compares the measured value(measured roll load) measured by the load cell 54 and the preset rollload inputted from the control panel (operation panel) 30 and gives theelectropneumatic regulator 62 an instruction of an operation amount ofan opening and closing valve, depending on a difference between themeasured roll load and the preset roll load. The electropneumaticregulator 62 automatically adjusts the valve opening degree in responseto the instruction from the controller 66 to vary a thrust force of theair cylinder 56 with the adjusted valve opening degree, therebyperforming feedback control of the roll load applied to the substrate Wduring cleaning of the substrate W.

According to this example, by providing the load cell 54 between thevertically movable arm 58 of the vertical movement mechanism 60 and theupper roll holder 42 coupled to the vertically movable arm 58, astructure in which the load cell 54 receives the own weight of the upperroll holder 42 can be established. Further, a structure in which abearing or a link rod which increases a friction during verticalmovement of the upper roll holder 42, or a beam structure, a projectionor the like which causes a loss in load transmission is not providedbetween the upper roll holder 42 and the load cell 54 can beestablished. Therefore, the roll load applied to the substrate W duringcleaning of the substrate can be transmitted to the load cell 54accurately, and thus the roll load can be measured and controlled withhigh accuracy.

A tilting mechanism 70 for tilting the upper roll holder 42 is disposedbetween the load cell 54 and the lower surface of the free end side ofthe vertically movable arm 58. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,a bracket 72 is fixed to the load cell 54, and a bearing casing 78 towhich a pair of bearings 76 for rotatably supporting a shaft 74 isattached is fixed to the lower surface of the free end side of thevertically movable arm 58. The shaft 74 supported by the bearings 76passes through a through-hole provided in the bracket 72, and is fixedto the bracket 72. Thus, the tilting mechanism 70 for tilting the upperroll holder 42, to which the load cell 54 is fixed, about the shaft 74in a direction of Y₁ shown in FIG. 4 is constituted.

In this manner, by providing the tilting mechanism 70, while keeping thehorizontal attitude of the upper roll cleaning member 46 held by theupper roll holder 42, the upper roll cleaning member 46 is brought intocontact with the substrate W uniformly over substantially the entirelength of the upper roll cleaning member 46 and is allowed to follow thesubstrate W when warpage or inclination of the substrate W, flapping ofthe substrate W caused by its rotation, or the like occurs. Thus, theroll load is applied to the substrate W uniformly to thereby improve thecleaning performance, and the repulsive force from the substrate W isreceived by the entire upper roll cleaning member 46 to thereby improvethe measurement accuracy of the roll load.

A recess 44 a is provided at a substantially central area along thelongitudinal direction of the lower roll holder 44. The lower rollholder 44 has a vertical movement mechanism 60 a comprising an aircylinder 56 a disposed in the vertical direction to serve as anactuator, and a vertically movable shaft 59 as a vertically movable unitvertically movable by actuation of the air cylinder (actuator) 56 a. Thelower roll holder 44 is coupled via a load cell 54 a to an upper endsurface of the vertically movable shaft (vertically movable unit) 59.With this configuration, the lower roll holder 44 is vertically movedtogether with the vertically movable shaft 59 by actuation of the aircylinder 56 a. The air cylinder 56 a is provided with anelectropneumatic regulator 62 a serving as a regulating device, in thesame manner as the above.

In this manner, the lower roll holder 44 is coupled to the upper endsurface of the vertically movable shaft 59 at the substantially centralarea along the longitudinal direction of the lower roll holder 44 sothat the center of gravity of the lower roll holder 44 which supportsand rotates the lower roll cleaning member 48, passes through the centerof the load cell 54 a or a location close to the center of the load cell54 a, thereby coupling the lower roll holder 44 to the verticallymovable shaft 59 in a horizontal state and a well-balanced manner.

Further, the own weight of the lower roll holder 44 can be transmittedto the load cell 54 a without any loss by coupling the lower roll holder44 to the upper end surface of the vertically movable shaft 59 via theload cell 54 a. When the lower roll holder 44 is lifted to bring thelower roll cleaning member 48 into contact with the substrate W, acompressive load applied to the load cell 54 is increased by a certainamount which substantially coincides with the roll load (pressing load)applied to the substrate W by the lower roll cleaning member 48.

Accordingly, the roll load applied to the substrate W by the lower rollcleaning member 48 during cleaning of the substrate W is measured by theload cell 54 a based on the increased compressive load and the valveopening degree is adjusted by an operation amount of theelectropneumatic regulator (regulating device) 62 a, thereby regulatingthe roll load.

The measured value measured by the load cell 54 a sent, from anindicator 64 a of the load cell 54 a, in analog signal to the controller66, and the analog signal sent from the controller 66 is inputted to theelectropneumatic regulator 62 a. Thus, a closed-loop control system forperforming a closed-loop control is constructed. Further, a preset valuesuch as preset roll load is inputted from the control panel (operationpanel) 30 to the controller 66.

With this configuration, the controller 66 compares the measured value(measured roll load) measured by the load cell 54 a and the preset rollload inputted from the control panel (operation panel) 30 and gives theelectropneumatic regulator 62 a an instruction of an operation amount ofan opening and closing valve depending on a difference between themeasured roll load and the preset roll load. The electropneumaticregulator 62 a automatically adjusts the valve opening degree inresponse to the instruction from the controller 66 to vary a thrustforce of the air cylinder 56 a with the adjusted valve opening degree,thereby performing feedback control of the roll load applied to thesubstrate W during cleaning of the substrate W.

According to this example, by providing the load cell 54 a between thevertically movable shaft 59 of the vertical movement mechanism 60 a andthe lower roll holder 44 coupled to the vertically movable shaft 59, astructure in which the load cell 54 a receives the own weight of thelower roll holder 44 can be established. Further, a structure in which abearing or a link rod which increases a friction during verticalmovement of the lower roll holder 44, or a beam structure, a projectionor the like which causes a loss in load transmission is not providedbetween the lower roll holder 44 and the load cell 54 a can beestablished. Therefore, the roll load applied to the substrate W duringcleaning of the substrate can be transmitted to the load cell 54 aaccurately, and thus the roll load can be measured and controlled withhigh accuracy.

A tilting mechanism 70 a for tilting the lower roll holder 44 isdisposed between the load cell 54 a fixed to the upper end surface ofthe vertically movable shaft 59 and the lower roll holder 44.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a bracket 72 a is fixed to the loadcell 54 a fixed to the upper end surface of the vertically movable shaft59, and a bearing casing 78 a to which a pair of bearings for rotatablysupporting a shaft 74 a is attached is fixed to the lower roll holder44. The shaft 74 a supported by the bearings passes through athrough-hole provided in the bracket 72 a, and is fixed to the bracket72 a. Thus, the tilting mechanism 70 a for tilting the lower roll holder44 about the shaft 74 a in a direction of Y₂ shown in FIG. 6 isconstituted.

In this manner, by providing the tilting mechanism 70 a, while keepingthe horizontal attitude of the lower roll cleaning member 48 held by thelower roll holder 44, the lower roll cleaning member 48 is brought intocontact with the substrate W uniformly over substantially the entirelength of the lower roll cleaning member 48 and is allowed to follow thesubstrate W when warpage or inclination of the substrate W, flapping ofthe substrate W caused by its rotation, or the like occurs. Thus, theroll load is applied to the substrate uniformly to thereby improve thecleaning performance, and the repulsive force from the substrate isreceived by the entire lower roll cleaning member 48 to thereby improvethe measurement accuracy of the roll load. Further, mechanical backlashor friction hardly occurs in the tilting mechanism 70 a in response tothe vertical compressive load and the vertical tensile load.Furthermore, the tilting mechanism 70 a is not brought into contact withanything other than the lower roll holder 44 and the load cell 54 a.Therefore, the own weight of the lower roll holder 44 is transmitted tothe load cell 54 a without any loss.

In the scrub cleaning apparatus having the above configuration, as shownin FIG. 2, a peripheral portion of the substrate W is located in anengagement groove 80 a formed in a circumferential surface of a spinningtop 80 provided at an upper portion of each of the spindles 40. Byspinning (rotating) the spinning tops 80 while pressing them inwardlyagainst the peripheral portion of the substrate W, the substrate W isrotated horizontally in the direction shown by the arrow E in FIG. 2. Inthis embodiment, two of the four spinning tops 80 apply a rotationalforce to the substrate W, while the other two spinning tops 80 functionas a bearing for supporting the rotation of the substrate W. It is alsopossible to couple all the spinning tops 80 to a drive mechanism so thatthey all apply a rotational force to the substrate W.

While horizontally rotating the substrate W and supplying a cleaningliquid (chemical liquid) from the upper cleaning liquid supply nozzle 50to the front surface (upper surface) of the substrate W, the upper rollcleaning member 46 is rotated and lowered to be brought into contactwith the front surface of the rotating substrate W under a predeterminedroll load, thereby performing scrub cleaning of the front surface of thesubstrate W with the upper roll cleaning member 46 in the presence ofthe cleaning liquid. The length of the upper roll cleaning member 46 isset to be slightly larger than the diameter of the substrate W, and thusthe entire front surface of the substrate W can be cleaned at the sametime.

When the front surface of the substrate W is scrub-cleaned with theupper roll cleaning member 46, the roll load applied to the substrate Wby the upper roll cleaning member 46 is measured by the load cell 54.The controller 66 compares the measured value (measured roll load) andthe preset roll load which has been inputted from the control panel 30,and gives an instruction of the operation amount of the opening andclosing valve to the electropneumatic regulator 62 depending on adifference between the measured roll load and the preset roll load. Theelectropneumatic regulator 62 automatically adjusts the valve openingdegree in response to the instruction from the controller 66 to vary athrust force of the air cylinder 56 with the valve opening degree.Accordingly, the roll load applied to the substrate W during cleaning ofthe substrate W is feedback-controlled so that the roll load becomesequal to the preset roll load.

If the feedback control of the roll load is started before the upperroll cleaning member 46 applies the roll load to the substrate W, themeasured value by the load cell 54 is disturbed by the vertical movementof the upper roll holder 42 or other causes. In such a case, when thedisturbance of the measured value is picked up, the electropneumaticregulator 62 is more likely to become in an out-of-control state.Therefore, the feedback control of the roll load is preferably startedfrom the time when the upper roll cleaning member 46 is brought intocontact with the front surface of the substrate W and applies the rollload to the substrate W. Thus, the initial disturbance of the roll loadcan be prevented and the time required for the roll load to reach thepreset roll load can be shortened.

Further, the operation amount of the electropneumatic regulator 62before starting the feedback control of the roll load applied to thesubstrate W is preferably set arbitrarily for each preset roll load.Specifically, the relationship between time and the roll load when thepreset roll load is 6N, and the operation amounts of theelectropneumatic regulator 62 before starting the feedback control ofthe roll load are set to valve opening degrees 40% and 20%,respectively, and then the roll load is feedback-controlled is shown ingraph A and graph B in FIG. 7. The relationship between time and theroll load when the preset roll load is 6N, and the operation amount ofthe electropneumatic regulator 62 is set (fixed) to valve opening degree30% and the roll load is not feedback-controlled is shown in graph C inFIG. 7.

From the graphs A and C of FIG. 7, it is understood that the timerequired for the roll load to reach the preset roll load can beshortened by setting the operation amount of the electropneumaticregulator 62 before starting the feedback control of the roll load tovalve opening degree 40%, as compared to the case where the operationamount of the electropneumatic regulator 62 is set to valve openingdegree 30% and the roll load is not feedback-controlled. Further, fromthe graphs A and B of FIG. 7, it is understood that when the preset rollloads are the same, the time required for the roll load to reach thepreset roll load can be changed by changing the operation amount of theelectropneumatic regulator 62 before starting the feedback control ofthe roll load. It has been confirmed that the impact (overshoot amount)when the roll cleaning member is brought into contact with the substratecan be changed by changing the operation amount of the electropneumaticregulator 62 before starting the feedback control of the roll load.

Further, the timing to start the feedback control of the roll loadapplied to the substrate is preferably set arbitrarily for each presetroll load, so that the initial disturbance of the roll load can beprevented and the time required for the roll load to reach the presetroll load can be shortened.

The preset roll load, the operation amount of the electropneumaticregulator before starting the feedback control of the roll load, thetiming to start the feedback control of the roll load, and the like areinputted beforehand from the control panel 30 to the controller 64, andthe electropneumatic regulator 62 adjusts the valve opening degree andchanges ON/OFF of the closed-loop control system in response to theinstruction from the controller 64.

Simultaneously, while supplying a cleaning liquid from the lowercleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 to the back surface (lower surface) ofthe substrate W, the lower roll cleaning member 48 is rotated and liftedto be brought into contact with the back surface of the rotatingsubstrate W under a predetermined roll load, thereby performing scrubcleaning of the back surface of the substrate W with the lower rollcleaning member 48 in the presence of the cleaning liquid. The length ofthe lower roll cleaning member 48 is set to be slightly larger than thediameter of the substrate W, and thus the entire back surface of thesubstrate W is cleaned simultaneously, as with the above-described frontsurface of the substrate W.

During scrub cleaning of the surface of the substrate W with the lowerroll cleaning member 48, the roll load applied to the substrate W duringcleaning of the substrate W is feedback-controlled so that the roll loadbecomes equal to the preset roll load, as with the case of theabove-described upper roll cleaning member 46.

In the substrate processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the substratetaken out from a substrate cassette inside the loading port 12 istransferred to one of the polishing units 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, andthe surface of the substrate is polished by the specified polishingunit. The surface of the substrate which has been polished is cleaned(primarily cleaned) in the first substrate cleaning unit 16, and is thencleaned (finally cleaned) in the second substrate cleaning unit 18.Then, the cleaned substrate is removed from the second substratecleaning unit 18 and transferred to the substrate drying unit 20 wherethe substrate is spin-dried. Thereafter, the dried substrate is returnedinto the substrate cassette inside the loading port 12.

In the above examples, although both of the roll load applied to thefront surface (upper surface) of the substrate by the upper rollcleaning member 46 and the roll load applied to the back surface (lowersurface) of the substrate by the lower roll cleaning member 48 arefeedback-controlled using a closed-loop control system, either one ofthem may be feedback-controlled depending on use conditions (process,property of the substrate, load, and the like).

FIG. 8 is a front sectional elevational view showing another upper rollholder 42 which incorporates therein a load cell 54 and a tiltingmechanism 70. The upper roll holder 42 in this example differs from theabove-described upper roll holder in the following respects.

Specifically, a storage chamber 92 having an upper portion covered by acovering plate 90 is formed in the upper roll holder 42, and the loadcell 54 is housed in the storage chamber 92 and fixed to the upper rollholder 42. The bracket 72 of the tilting mechanism 70 is fixed to anupper surface of the load cell 54 and projects above the covering plate90, and a bearing casing 78 of the tilting mechanism 70 is fixed to alower surface of a free end side of the vertically movable arm(vertically movable unit) 58 extending horizontally. Further, acylindrical member 94 having a lower end fixed to the covering plate 90is disposed around the bearing casing 78, and a bellows-like andfreely-bendable waterproof sheet 96 having a lower end coupled to thecovering plate 90 and an upper end coupled to the lower surface of thefree end side of the vertically movable ati 58 is disposed around thecylindrical member 94. With this configuration, during cleaning process,the tilting mechanism 70 and the load cell 54 are prevented from beingwetted with a cleaning liquid used in the cleaning.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional elevational view showing another lower rollholder 44 which incorporates therein a load cell 54 a and a tiltingmechanism 70 a. The lower roll holder 44 in this example differs fromthe above-described lower roll holder in the following respects.

Specifically, the tilting mechanism 70 a fixed to the lower roll holder44 and the load cell 54 a coupled to the tilting mechanism 70 a arehoused in a housing portion 100 which is formed in the lower roll holder44 and opens downward. An upper portion of the vertically movable shaft(vertically movable unit) 59, having an upper end surface to which theload cell 54 a is fixed, is surrounded by a cylindrical waterproof cover102 suspended downward. With this configuration, during cleaningprocess, the tilting mechanism 70 a and the load cell 54 a are preventedfrom being wetted with a cleaning liquid used in the cleaning.

Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, itshould be understood that the present invention is not limited to theillustrated embodiments, but many changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to a substrate cleaning apparatusand a substrate processing apparatus having the substrate cleaningapparatus for performing scrub cleaning of a surface of a substrate,such as a semiconductor wafer, with an elongated cylindrical rollcleaning member extending horizontally, by rotating both of thesubstrate and the roll cleaning member in one direction respectivelywhile keeping the roll cleaning member in contact with the surface ofthe substrate.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   14 a-14 d polishing unit    -   16, 18 substrate cleaning unit    -   20 substrate drying unit    -   24 substrate transport unit    -   30 control panel (touch panel)    -   40 spindle    -   42, 44 roll holder    -   46, 48 roll cleaning member    -   54, 54 a load cell    -   56, 56 a air cylinder (actuator)    -   60, 60 a vertical movement mechanism    -   62, 62 a electropneumatic regulator (regulating device)    -   64, 64 a indicator    -   66 controller (control unit)    -   70, 70 a tilting mechanism    -   72, 72 a bracket    -   74, 74 a shaft    -   76, 76 bearing    -   78, 78 a bearing casing

1. A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate, comprising:a roll holder configured to support a horizontally elongated rollcleaning member and rotate the roll cleaning member; a vertical movementmechanism, having a vertically movable unit vertically movable byactuation of an actuator having a regulating device, configured tovertically move the roll holder coupled to the vertically movable unitso that the roll cleaning member applies a predetermined roll load tothe substrate at the time of cleaning the substrate; a load cellprovided between the vertically movable unit of the vertical movementmechanism and the roll holder and configured to measure the roll load;and a controller configured to perform feedback control of the roll loadthrough the regulating device of the actuator based on a measured valueof the load cell.
 2. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim1, wherein the vertically movable unit of the vertical movementmechanism comprises a vertically movable shaft vertically movable byactuation of the actuator, or a vertically movable arm extending in ahorizontal direction and having a base end coupled to the verticallymovable shaft.
 3. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a tilting mechanism provided between the verticallymovable unit of the vertical movement mechanism and the roll holder andconfigured to tilt the roll holder.
 4. The substrate cleaning apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the load cell is provided at asubstantially central area along a longitudinal direction of the rollholder and is coupled to the vertically movable unit of the verticalmovement mechanism.
 5. The substrate cleaning apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the controller is configured to start the feedbackcontrol of the roll load from when the roll load is applied to thesubstrate.
 6. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the controller arbitrarily sets, for each preset roll load,timing to start the feedback control of the roll load applied to thesubstrate.
 7. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 5,wherein an electropneumatic regulator is used as the regulating device,and the controller arbitrarily sets, for each preset roll load, anoperation amount of the electropneumatic regulator before starting thefeedback control of the roll load applied to the substrate.
 8. Asubstrate processing apparatus having a substrate cleaning apparatusaccording to claim 1.